Non-expansible linkage bracelet and method of manufacture thereof

ABSTRACT

A non-expansible linkage bracelet and method of manufacture thereof, wherein the bracelet includes: a set of laterally adjacent top links having channel-shaped sections with .Iadd.width dimensions defined by .Iaddend.parallel side members .Iadd.which are .Iaddend.joined by top members, .[.one side member.]. .Iadd.the channel-shaped sections .Iaddend.of each top link .Iadd.being separated by an intermediate decorative section, and each top link .Iaddend.having at least one bendable locking lug protruding .[.therefrom.]. .Iadd.exclusively from one side thereof, each of said decorative sections having at least one recess on the said one side located laterally within said width dimensions, and at least one projection on the side opposite to said one side extending laterally beyond said width dimension .Iaddend.and a set of laterally adjacent bottom links having channel-shaped sections inverted relative to the channel-shaped sections of the top links, the channel-shaped sections of the bottom links having parallel side members joined by bottom members with apertures therein. The side members of adjacent links of one set are arranged in a confronting relationship between the side members of individual links of the other set, with the locking lugs of the top links being received in the apertures in the bottom members of the bottom links. The locking lugs of each top link are bent to overlap the bottom link side members located between the side members of the top links, thereby establishing an interlocked relationship between the links of both sets.Iadd., with said projections being received in said recesses. .Iaddend.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to bracelets, and is concerned inparticular with non-expansible linkage bracelets of the type used withwristwatches and the like.

There has been a long felt need for a non-expansible linkage braceletcomprised exclusively of top and bottom links which are separatelyfabricated from either the same or different materials, and which areinterconnected by an arrangement of bendable locking lugs andcooperative receiving apertures hidden beneath the decorative topbracelet surface and located inwardly from the bracelet side edges.Preferably, the locking lugs are all bent in one direction parallel tothe bracelet length.

A bracelet of this type offers a number of important advantages. Forexample, where the decorative top surface is to be fabricated from arelatively expensive alloy of a precious metal, and is frequently thecase, the manufacturer can realize important cost savings by fabricatingthe bottom links from another less expensive metal. Preferably, thisother metal will be of a type which is more resistant to corrosion anddeterioration caused by exposure to perspiration from the wearer's skin.An example of another such metal is stainless steel, which in many casesis also used for the top links. By isolating the locking lugs and theircooperative receiving apertures from the top surface of the bracelet,the manufacturer's choice of decorative designs is neither restrictednor adversely affected thus making it possible to provide a much moreattractive bracelet. Because the locking lugs and their receivingapertures are located inwardly from the bracelet edges, these edges canbe shaped by grinding to further enhance the overall decorativeappearance of the finished product. The use of locking lugs on the toplinks and receiving apertures on the bottom links to interconnect bothsets of links simplifies assembly procedures, and where as in thepreferred embodiment the lugs are all bent in one direction, automatedassembly is greatly facilitated.

The known prior art non-expansible linkage bracelets have failed tosatisfactorily meet this long felt need. For example in U.S. Pat. Nos.1,712,582 (Renz); 1,684,977 (Tost); 2,263,383 (Kestenman); as well as inGerman Pat. No. 726,942 and British Pat. No. 825,617, the top and bottomlinks are interconnected by means including bendable lugs or tabsprotruding inwardly from the bracelet side edges, thus making itimpossible to subsequently shape the bracelet edges by a grindingoperation.

The non-expansible bracelet linkages of U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,901,345(Carlson) and 1,854,857 (Prestinari) each have at least threecomponents, all of which are visible at the top surface of the bracelet.British Pat. No. 969,454 also discloses a non-expansible braceletlinkage having three components.

In U.S. Pat. No. 1,720,235 (Prestinari) and British Pat. No. 969,454, aswell as in all of the other patents mentioned above, pairs of lockinglugs or tabs are bent in opposite directions towards each other, thuscomplicating automated assembly and in many cases also providing arestriction against subsequent grinding of the bracelet edges.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention meets the above-described long felt need byproviding a non-expansible linkage bracelet consisting of interconnectedsets of top and bottom links which may be separately fabricated fromeither the same or different materials. The top links havechannel-shaped sections with parallel side members joined by topmembers, one side member of each top link having at least one bendablelocking lug protruding therefrom. The bottom links also havechannel-shaped sections which are inverted relative to thechannel-shaped sections of the top links, and which have parallel sidemembers joined by bottom members, the latter having apertures therein.The side members of adjacent links of one set are arranged in aconfronting relationship between the side members of individual links ofthe other set, with the locking lugs of the top links being received inthe apertures in the bottom members of the bottom links. The lockinglugs of each top link are bent to overlap the bottom link side memberslocated between the side members of the top links, thereby establishingan interlocked relationship between the links of both sets.

The locking lugs of the top links and the apertures in the bottommembers of the bottom links are spaced inwardly from the bracelet sideedges, thereby allowing the side edges of the bracelet to be shaped asby grinding without affecting the overall strength of the interlockedbracelet. The locking lugs are preferably all bent in one directionparallel to the bracelet length.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of one embodiment of a linkage braceletsection embodying the concepts of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the linkage bracelet section shown inFIG. 1;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are perspective top and bottom views respectively of atop link used in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are perspective top and bottom views respectively of abottom link used in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 5A is an exploded perspective view showing a top link spacedvertically above two laterally adjacent bottom links;

FIG. 5B is a perspective view showing an intermediate stage in theassembly of the links of FIG. 5A;

FIG. 6 is a perspective bottom view of a bracelet section with oneseries of locking lugs protruding vertically through their respectivereceiving apertures, and with another series of locking lugs bent in onedirection parallel to the bracelet length;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are sectional views on an enlarged scale takenrespectively on lines 7--7 and 8--8 of FIG. 6;

FIGS. 9A and 9B are perspective top and bottom views respectively of analternate top link embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a top perspective view of a bracelet section utilizing thetop link embodiment shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken along lines11--11 of FIG. 10;

FIGS. 12A-12D are top perspective views showing other typical top linkembodiments;

FIG. 13 is a bottom perspective view of another top link embodimenthaving its locking lugs modified to facilitate disassembly;

FIG. 14 is a bottom perspective view of a bracelet section employing toplinks of the type shown in FIG. 13, and showing a typical tool used todisassemble links by prying up the locking lugs; and

FIG. 15 is a plan view of a bracelet section in accordance with thepresent invention illustrating the subsequent shaping of the braceletedges as by grinding.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of one embodiment of a bracelet section of thepresent invention employing straight top or first links 10. FIG. 2 is abottom plan view of the same bracelet section showing the bottom orsecond links 12.

With reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B, it will be seen that the straight toplinks 10 have channel-shaped sections with parallel side members 10a,10b joined by top members 10c. One of the side members 10b is providedwith at least one and preferably several bendable locking lugs 10dprotruding therefrom. Although the external surfaces of the top members10c are shown as being smooth, it will be understood that they mayalternatively be milled, stamped or embossed with various decorativedesigns. As is best shown in FIG. 1, the laterally adjacent externalsurfaces of the top members 10c cooperate exclusively to define the topsurface of the bracelet.

With reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B, it will be seen that the bottom links12 have channel-shaped sections with parallel side members 12a, 12bjoined by bottom members 12c with apertures 12d therein. Preferably, theside members 12a, 12b are notched as at 12e on opposite sides of theapertures 12d.

FIG. 5A shows a single top link 10 spaced vertically above a pair oflaterally adjacent bottom links 12, with the locking lugs 10d alignedvertically with the apertures 12d in one of the bottom links. FIG. 5Bshows the same three links at an intermediate stage in their assemblyafter the top link 10 has been lowered into position on the bottom links12. At this stage, the locking lugs 10d now extend, through theirrespective apertures 12d.

FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view of a plurality of top and bottomlinks 10, 12, with one series of locking lugs 10d in the intermediatestage of assembly as shown in FIG. 5B, and with the other series oflocking lugs 10d' bent into their final locked positions.

During assembly, the top and bottom links 10, 12 are first arranged asshown in FIG. 7. The side members 10a, 10b of adjacent top links 10 arearranged in a confronting relationship between the side members 12a, 12bof individual bottom links 12. Likewise, the side members 12a, 12b ofadjacent bottom links are arranged in a confronting relationship betweenthe side members 10a, 10b of individual top links. The locking lugs 10dprotrude vertically through the apertures 12d, the latter cooperatingwith their adjacent side wall notches 12e to provide parallel grooves"G" (see FIG. 5A) extending longitudinally along the bottom braceletsurface.

In the final assembly stage shown in FIG. 8, the locking lugs are bentin one direction "D" parallel to the length of the bracelet. The bentlocking lugs 10d' thus overlap the bottom link side members 12a, 12blocated between the top link side members 10a, 10b, thereby establishingan interlocking relationship between the top and bottom links 10, 12.When thus interlocked, the side members 12a, 12b of the bottom links 12are held between the top members 10c and the bent locking lugs 10d' ofthe top links 10. The locking lugs 10d' are bent into the grooves G andpreferably are recessed beneath the plane "P" of the bottom braceletsurface.

The locking lugs 10d and their respective receiving apertures 12d arespaced inwardly from the side edges of the bracelet. As shownschematically in FIG. 15, this permits the side edges of the bracelet tobe decoratively shaped, as by grinding from their original straightparallel configurations shown by the dot-dash lines, to a variety ofmodified designs, such as the tapered or curved configurations shown bythe solid lines at s_(a) and s_(b).

Referring now to FIGS. 9A and 9B, an alternate embodiment of a top linkis shown at 14. Link 14 has a generally planar decorative section 16located intermediate channel-shaped sections 18 at the opposite endsthereof. As with the straight top link embodiment, each channel-shapedsection 18 has parallel side members 18a, 18b interconnected by topmembers 18c, one side member 18b of each end section 18 having abendable locking lug 18d protruding therefrom. From FIG. 10, it will beseen that the channel-shaped sections 18 and their respective lockinglugs 18d cooperate in an inverted interlocked relationship with bottommembers 12 of the type shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B.

The decorative sections have projections 16a on one side which extendlaterally beyond the width dimension "W" of the channel-shaped sections18. The projections 16a are spaced by recesses of notches 16b which havetheir bases aligned with the sides 18a. The opposite sides of thedecorative sections 16 have notches 16c which extend inwardly of thesides 18b, forming projections 16d with outer ends even with the sides18b. When assembled as shown in FIG. 10, the projections 16a, 16d ofeach top link 14 are received respectively in the recesses 16c, 16b oflaterally adjacent top links to provide a highly decorative interlockingdesign.

FIGS. 12A-12D show typical examples of other alternative top linkdesigns which may be employed with the bottom links 12. Each of thesetop links have channel-shaped end sections 20 with intermediatedecorative sections 22. Each decorative section 22 has one or moreprojections 24 on one side received in recesses 26 on the other side. Itwill thus be seen that the design variations are considerable, makingthis bracelet design highly adaptable to different decorative motifs.

FIG. 13 shows a top link 28 with tool receiving notches 30 formed at theends of its bendable locking lugs 32. When the lugs 32 are bent intotheir interlocked operative positions as shown in FIG. 14, the notches30 are arranged to receive a suitably shaped tool such as a pointedjeweler's pick 34. The pick 34 can be used to pry up the lugs 32 whenadding or subtracting links in order to adjust the overall braceletlength.

The method of manufacturing linkage bracelets in accordance with thepresent invention will now be described using the linkage bracelet ofFIGS. 1-8 as an example. The top and bottom links 10, 12 are firstfabricated, typically as metal stampings, from either the same ordifferent materials. The top and bottom links are then arranged in anintermediate stage of assembly as shown in FIG. 7. Then, the lockinglugs 10d are bent to the position as shown at 10d' in FIGS. 6 and 8 tointerlock the top and bottom links. Thereafter, the sides of thebracelet may be ground to any desired shape, for example as shown inFIG. 15.

I claim:
 1. A non-expansible linkage bracelet comprising: a set oflaterally adjacent top links having channel-shaped sections with.Iadd.width dimensions defined by .Iaddend.parallel side members.Iadd.which are .Iaddend.joined by top members, .[.one side member.]..Iadd.the channel-shaped sections .Iaddend.of each top link .Iadd.beingseparated by an intermediate decorative section, and each top link.Iaddend.having at least one bendable locking lug protruding.[.therefrom.]. .Iadd.from one side thereof, each of said decorativesections having at least one recess on the said one side locatedlaterally within said width dimension, and at least one projection onthe side opposite to said one side extending laterally beyond said widthdimension.Iaddend., a set of laterally adjacent bottom links havingchannel-shaped sections inverted relative to the channel-shaped sectionsof said top links, the channel-shaped sections of said bottom linkshaving parallel side members joined by bottom members with aperturestherein; the side members of adjacent links of one set being arranged ina confronting relationship between the side members of individual linksof the other set, with the locking lugs of said top links being receivedin the apertures in the bottom members of said bottom links, the lockinglugs of said top links being bent to overlap the bottom link sidemembers located between the side members of said top links, therebyestablishing an interlocked relationship between the links of bothsets.Iadd., with said projections being received in saidrecesses.Iaddend..
 2. This linkage bracelet of claim 1 wherein all ofsaid locking lugs are bent in one direction parallel to the length ofsaid bracelet.
 3. The linkage bracelet of claim 2 wherein the sidemembers of said bottom links are provided with notches opening into theapertures in said bottom members, the notches and apertures of adjacentbottom members being aligned to provide grooves extending longitudinallyalong the bottom surfaces of said bracelet, with said locking lugs beingbent into said grooves to establish the aforesaid interlockedrelationship between the links of both sets.
 4. The linkage bracelet ofclaims 1 or 3 having a bottom surface defined by the exterior surfacesof said bottom members and wherein the bent locking lugs are recessedbeneath the plane of said bottom surface.
 5. The linkage bracelet ofclaim 1 wherein said top and bottom links are fabricated of differentmaterials.
 6. The linkage bracelet of claims 1 or 5 having a topdecorative surface provided exclusively by said top links.
 7. Thelinkage bracelet of claim 1 wherein said locking lugs and said aperturesare spaced inwardly from the side edges of said bracelet.
 8. The linkagebracelet of claims 1, 2 or 7 wherein said locking lugs are provided atthe ends thereof with tool receiving means to facilitate reverse bendingthereof when disassembling said linkage bracelet.
 9. The linkagebracelet of claims 1, 2 or 7 wherein the side members of said bottomlinks are held between the top members and the bent locking lugs of saidtop links. .[.10. The linkage bracelet of claim 1 wherein said top linkshave planar decorative sections located intermediate channel-shapedsections at the opposite ends thereof..]. .[.11. The linkage bracelet ofclaim 10 wherein said decorative sections have projections extendinglaterally beyond the width dimension of the channel-shaped sections ofsaid top links, and recesses located laterally within said widthdimension, with the projections of one top link being received in therecesses of the next laterally adjacent top link..].
 12. The linkagebracelet of claim .[.11.]. .Iadd.1 .Iaddend.wherein the projections ofsaid top links overlap the side members of said bottom links.
 13. Anon-expansible linkage bracelet comprising: a set of laterally adjacentfirst links having channel-shaped sections with .Iadd.width dimensionsdefined by .Iaddend.first side members .Iadd.which are .Iaddend.joinedby first intermediate members, .[.one first side member.]. .Iadd.thechannel-shaped sections .Iaddend.of each first link .Iadd.beingseparated by an intermediate decorative section, and each first link.Iaddend.having at least one bendable locking lug protruding.[.therefrom.]. .Iadd.from one side thereof, each of said decorativesections having at least one recess on the said one side locatedlaterally within said width dimension, and at least one projection onthe side opposite to said one side extending laterally beyond said widthdimension.Iaddend.; a set of laterally adjacent second links havingchannel-shaped sections inverted relative to the channel-shaped sectionsof said first links, the channel-shaped sections of said second linkshaving second side members joined by second intermediate members withapertures therein; the side members of adjacent links of one set beingarranged in a confronting relationship between the side members ofindividual links of the other set, with the locking lugs of said firstlinks being received in the apertures in said second intermediatemembers, said locking lugs being bent to overlap the second side memberslocated between the first side members of said first links, and thesecond side members of said second links being confined between thefirst intermediate members and the bent locking lugs of said first linkmembers.Iadd., with said projection being received within saidrecesses.Iaddend..
 14. A method of manufacturing a non-expansiblelinkage bracelet comprising:fabricating top and bottom sets of links,said top links having channel-shaped sections with .Iadd.widthdimensions defined by .Iaddend.parallel side members .Iadd.which are.Iaddend.joined by top members, .[.one side member.]. .Iadd.thechannel-shaped sections .Iaddend.of each top link .Iadd.being separatedby an intermediate decorative section, and each top link .Iaddend.havingat least one bendable locking lug protruding .[.therefrom.]. .Iadd.fromone side thereof, each of said decorative sections having at least onerecess on the said one side located laterally within said widthdimensions, and at least one projection on the side opposite to the saidone side extending laterally beyond said width dimension.Iaddend., andsaid bottom links having channel-shaped sections with parallel sidemembers joined by bottom members with apertures therein; assembling saidtop and bottom sets of links, with the links of each set being laterallyadjacent to each other and extending transversally relative to thebracelet length, with the channel-shaped sections of the links of oneset being inverted relative to the channel-shaped sections of the linksof the other set, with the side members of adjacent links of one setbeing arranged in confronting relationship between the side members ofindividual links of the other set, and with the locking lugs of said toplinks being received in the apertures in the bottom members of saidbottom links; and, bending the locking lugs of each top link to overlapthe bottom link side members located between the side members of saidtop links, thereby establishing an interlocked relationship between thelinks of both sets.Iadd., with said projections being received in saidrecess.Iaddend..
 5. The method of claim 14 wherein said locking lugs areall bent in one direction parallel to the length of said bracelet. 16.The method of claims 14 or 15 including the step of grinding the sideedges of said bracelet to impart a desired configuration thereto.